Circles Are Never Ending

Literature Circles
Such a great idea first of all! Students are able to choose the book they would like to read and the teacher acts a facilitator. I think it would be a little bit difficult to get Literature circles together out of the school though because many students have extra-curricular activities they are involved in. It seems that if high schools, and even middle schools, focused more of their expenses in academic clubs there may be more students interested in reading. The problem with this approach though is many parents and students do not want to be involved with "school work" or "critical thinking" once the school day is over. This would be one of the main reasons it should be included in school. My observation for our Literary Project took place at Chambersburg Area High School. I had mentioned in class that students were required to read silently for ten minutes during period one. It did not matter if they were in math or history class because it was a school wide event that involved every grade level. My point of reminding you about this story is that there have been some changes made that include reading in schools. This is just one example. Literature circles would be a great way to start of the school day and get students talking about ideas in a comfortable setting. I hope in the future it could be an idea I could bring up.

Teaching Standard English: Whose Standard?
This article states the true when it mentioned that "in our society language classifies [us]" (100). People seem to immediately assume that if a student cannot spell or has trouble phrases sentences that they are not as "smart." Why does language classify how intelligent someone is? I would agree that some of my English teachers have said to be before that my sentences are "too elementary" or that "my paper needs to expand more on ideas." I have been taught "the rules" in all of my English classes, but I am still unaware of who made this rules. Why can't I misspell words? Is it because first impression would lead for an employer to assume I am not capable of the job if I cannot "even spell?"  I think Fred's writing was not as original as it could have been because he was afraid to make mistakes. I think the purpose of the grammar rules and sentence structure exercises is to set a foundation of what can be done with writing. I suppose once the foundation if laid down any structure can be built on top of it. I think asking students to "recount their experiences" is a great way to involve troubled writers or silent students(102). Sharing stories is something each person gets excited about because it is personal.

Untracking English: Creating Quality Education For All Students
Tracking causes intimation. Period.
Teachers must see the gifts the each student can bring to class and try and focus on those positives. When you look at your students don't look at them and think, "Ben, he has trouble reading." Think, "he contributed about the homework in discussion yesterday." I think placing students in upper level classes and lower level classes gives the teacher an excuse of what they can expect from their students. Mixing of abilities could give lower level reader encouragement that the work can be done and upper level readers can help clarify some of their classmates confusion. Mixed abilities classes according to the article take more risks in their writing and this is a great thing. I noted while reading that I liked this quote: "Successfully untracking means re-examining and changing the curriculum"(175). To me, it says trying something new and challenging your students to try it with you.

Last Thought
I like coming to class and to discuss ideas instead of taking a test. Without the pressures of a quiz or test I feel as a student I can read for enjoyment and learn something all on my own. There is no right way to read something.